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Breech-Loading Ordnance. I No. 69,519, Patented Oct. 1, 1867.

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Witnesse s- N. FETEKS PHOTO-UTNDGRAFNER, WASHINGTON. O O

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ASA WEEKS, O F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

Letters Patent No. 69,519, dated October 1, 1867. I

IMPROVEMENT IN BREEGH-LOADING ORDNANCF.

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ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, ASA WEEK S, of Minneapolis, in the county ofHennepin, and in the State of Minnesota, have invented certain new anduseful improvements in Breech-Loading Cannon;" and do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,rcfercnce bcing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

In the annexed drawings, A represents the cannon which is placed uponthe carriage B. At the rear end of this cannon is made a verticalbreech, C, and smaller at the bottom than at the top. Within this breechis placed a wedge-shaped sliding breech-block, 0, having a rack-bar, a,upon its rear face. a represents a horizontal shaft, passed through theupper part of the cannon in the rear of this breech, having a cog-wheel,q, upon its centre, which meshes into the cogs on theraclebar of thebreech-block. w andvrcpresent two metallic pins, having coil springs,which extend from the rear of the cannon to the breech near the top. Thepin w catches into a small opening, 1', (fig. 4,) at the lower end ofthe breech-block C, and holds it in position when raised, while the pint presses against the face of the block and keeps the block tightagainst the front of the breech. The breech-block is made of steel orother suitable metal, its sides and front face being made straight, andits back or rear face being bevelled or gradually sloped off from top tobottom, thus giving it a wedge shape, so that it will tighten as itdescends into the breech-opening, stopping wherever it may bereccssar-y, on account of its own expansion or the expansion of thecontiguous parts of the breech by heat. The plates .1: and y are not apart of this invention, but are merely used with the breech-block toillustrate the position which the block will assume as it and itscontiguous parts of the breech become heated from the-continued firingof the piece. As the metal of the gun next to and in front of thebreech-block and the block itself become heated they will of necessityexpand, and consequently, the breech-opening becoming somewhat smallerand the block somewhat larger, the said block will not descend as lowinto said opening as it will before these conditions take place. Theblock is made tapering with a view to this fact, and is placed in avertical position, so that its own weight will carry it down to that.point, where it must of necessity stop, on account of the expansion ofthe parts. When the block has become worn by use it will, in the firstfirings of the piece, and before the parts have become expanded by heat,descend lower into the breech-opening than it will of course after saidparts have expanded. The tapering form of the block obviates thisdifiiculty of wear. A portion of the top of the block is taken off,otherwise there would be greater surface of metal exposed to pressure(by the recoil) above than below the hole in the breech, consequently,after a little use, the lower portion of the block and breech (on theback side) would be worn more than the upper, and the block no longerfit tightly in its place. 6 represents a ring on the top of the block,for raising it out of its place. D represents the cartridge-tube, whichis grooved inside, and provided with a circular plate, (2, having smalllugs on its circumference, which fit into the grooves, and can he slidfrom end to end of the tube. Both ends of this tube being open andformed alike, the plate cl can he slid from one end to the other, andform the casing for the rear end, against which the cartridge is placed.After the cartridge is put into its tube the said tube is inserted intoits opening at the rear of the cannon, and the breechblock raised, bymeans of the crankm on shafte. The rammer is then thrust into the tube,forcing the cartridge within the cannon, when the tube is withdrawn andthe block lowered, which closes the breech and secures the cartridge.lereprescnts'a sliding-bar, placed vertically on the rear end of thecannon, having a small handle, 2', to operate it. This bar rests uponthe short end of the handle of a hammer, E, which is pivoted to a bar,8, on the under part of the cannon, and is so attached that the headwill be directly under the bottom of the breech-block C. This device isintended to start the block from its place, so that it can be easilyraised by the cogs and lever. By means of the pin 2; the front faces ofthe plates on the block are always tightly pressed against the cannonand thus kept clean.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, 15-

1. The arrangement of the pins 10 v, with coil springs, when used incombination with breech-hlock O, as constructed, in the manner setforth.

2. The combination of the sliding bar I: and hammer E with the block Gand cannon A, for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 28th day of March, 1867.

ASA WEEKS. IL. sfl

Witnesses J. 0. W1nmms, S. M. WILLIAMs.

